Boston Massachusetts Temple Pictures

About the Boston Massachusetts Temple

The Boston Temple carries two remarkable distinctions: it was the first temple ever built in New England, and it became the 100th operating temple in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — fulfilling President Gordon B. Hinckley's personal goal of having 100 temples in operation before the end of the year 2000. He dedicated it on October 1, 2000. The 69,600-square-foot temple sits on a wooded granite hilltop in Belmont at 86 Frontage Road, with a series of public walkways winding among the beautifully landscaped grounds. The site carries an almost accidental origin story: the land was originally purchased for the meetinghouse that now adjoins the temple. The architect placed the meetinghouse in the lower corner of the property — against the wishes of Church leaders who wanted it centered — but that compromise left a large empty parcel atop the granite crag that proved perfectly suited for the later-announced temple. The original proposed design was a 94,000-square-foot building with six spires reaching 156 feet, but neighbor opposition led to a substantially scaled-back design.

The dedication itself was unusual: the temple was dedicated without its steeple because a pending lawsuit by neighbors contested the structure's height. After the Church won the case on appeal, the 139-foot steeple was added approximately one year after the dedication — one of the only temples in history to be dedicated without its spire in place. GPS confusion has also been an ongoing quirk: the Frontage Road address sends some navigation systems to South Boston rather than Belmont, occasionally sending out-of-town patrons to the wrong part of the city. The Boston Temple serves 14 stakes throughout eastern Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont — a vast New England district where members once traveled many hours for temple worship.

Boston Temple Photos, Art & Prints

The Boston Temple's wooded granite hilltop setting — its spire rising above the New England hardwoods and stone-crag landscape that defines the greater Boston area — gives photographers a particularly dramatic subject that changes character dramatically with the seasons. From the vivid spring blooms and summer greens of the New England landscape to the spectacular autumn foliage that brings millions of visitors to the region each year, to the snow-covered granite hillside of a New England winter, the temple grounds offer compelling photography conditions year-round. Our collection features photography and fine art capturing the temple in the varied seasonal beauty of eastern Massachusetts.

Boston Temple prints make a meaningful and inspirational gift for members throughout New England — and for anyone connected to this historic milestone temple, the 100th in the Church. Perfect for weddings, mission homecomings, new homes, and other milestone occasions.